Young Norwegian talent, Håkon Østerhagen has had a few change of plans for the 2025 season. Initially he was heavily linked to JWR Honda before a deal with Schmicker KTM was on the agenda. However, the Schmicker KTM team have been forced to close their doors due to team manager, Jef Janssen’s health.
With Schmicker closing their doors it had left Østerhagen in a tricky situation. We believe that he has found another ride for the 2025 season though and the one thing that will remain the same is that the focus will still be on the EMX250 championship. After signing with the JM Honda team for the 2024 season to contest the MX2 World Championship, Østerhagen has decided to drop back down to the EMX250 after he picked up a season ending injury last year.
We understand that the AIT Racing team who have made the switch to Fantic machinery for the upcoming season have signed up the young Norwegian for the 2025 season in what will be a rebuilding year for his career.
The deal will see Østerhagen work closely with former Grand Prix rider, Petar Petrov who has big ambitions for the AIT Racing team in the future. Fantic is a machine that Østerhagen knows well as he spent three years with the Maddii Racing team while they ran the Fantic setup in the GP paddock.
Østerhagen has had some good memories with the manufacturer and he’ll be hoping for a strong 2025 season to remind people of his ability. The past few years, injuries have been tough on him but if he stay injury free there’s no reason why he can’t be a front runner in the EMX250 championship.
The AIT Racing team will have following rider line up in 2025 provided the deal with Østerhagen goes ahead:
- Hakon Østerhagen (EMX250)
- Jake Davies (EMX250)
- Vencislav Toshev (EMX125)
- Jayson van Drunen (EMX125) – currently injured
- Petar Petrov (selected MXGP)
